To Leopold Würtenberger   5 August 1881

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | (Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.)

August 5. 1881

Dear Sir

I have made a rule never to lend money. But as you seem to be at present in much want, I enclose a cheque for 30£ as a present.1 Perhaps with extreme economy this may suffice to support you whilst learning the special department. I cannot assist you any further, & I beg you not to give me the pain of refusing.

With good wishes | Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin

Kindly acknowledge receipt of cheque.

See letter from Leopold Würtenberger, 3 August 1881. An entry in CD’s Classed account books (Down House MS) dated 5 August 1881 records a payment to Würtenberger of £30 under the heading ‘Gifts’. CD had previously given Würtenberger £100 for his scientific studies (see Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Leopold Würtenberger, 7 February 1879).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.1 (Railway … S.E.R.)] parentheses added

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13275,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13275